Alpha King Pale Ale - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

andrewjraab

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark burnt orange color. Two fingers of off white creamy and thick head. The head maintains a nice 1 inch thick ring the entire drink.

S - Big Citrus and floral notes.

T - Citrus, grapfruit, hop hop hop...nice sweet balance to it, but it stays true to its roots in the hoppy finish.

O - I stopped at a small bottle shop in Porter IN and picked up 3 varieties of FFF and not a single one has disappointed so far - this is no exception. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 01:58:44 | More by andrewjraab

JamesMN

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Translucent amber. Three finger soapy off-white head.

Aroma: Lots of orange citrus and some caramel malt.

Taste: Nice mix of orange and grapefruit with a decent amount of maltiness. I wouldn't call it a "malt bomb" but I'd definitely call it an IPA (it's missing the biscuit malt flavor that would make it an APA). Smooth finish and a little on the dry side.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and medium bodied. Good level of carbonation and above average drinkability.

Final Thoughts: I like this one as an IPA. Good hop character and a balanced malt flavor. Would I drink it again? Yes, got to finish the six-pack at least.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 00:58:19 | More by JamesMN

Gerasimos

Tennessee

4.55/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle brought back from Indiana.

Appears - beautiful burnished red-orange; one finger thick clingy head

Smells - dazzling grapefruit, more than hints of bubblegum, slightest pine zest; refreshing blast to the sinuses

Tastes - as the scents suggest; pine, hops, sweetness and citrus; malt back; well-balanced; slowly fading hop bitter end

Mouthfeels - gushing, entire palate coating; just brighter than creamy, silky smooth; a perfect bite of carbo

Overalls - love it; an epic example of the style; savor every sip if not readily available in your area; 3 Floyds has my absolute favorite labels/marketing as well

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 23:37:41 | More by Gerasimos

juliusseizure

New York

3.93/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to cfrances33 for this!

A - dark orange almost ruby with half inch of head. Head recedes over time to 2 mm

S - surprisingly not as pleasant as expected. Slightly medicinal.

T - hoppy bitterness from first sip to aftertaste

M - perfect for style, bubbly in mouth, weirdly inviting, can't explain it

O - a hoppy interpretation of a pale ale which is fine by me, but ZD is better

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 02:12:18 | More by juliusseizure

GameFreac

Georgia

4.61/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Wino's in Bowling Green, KY. Poured into a snifter.

Appearance: Pours a beautiful golden orange color with 2 fingers of a white head.

Smell: Smells of sweet hops, malt, pine, and grapefruit.

Taste - Taste mirrors the nose. Everything is so balanced.

Mouthfeel: Perfect for the style.

Overall: The best pale ale I've ever had. So good.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2012 20:48:31 | More by GameFreac

menkros

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours golden amber. 1 finger head, no carbonation. Smells slight hoppy fruity. Taste fruity and hidden alcohol. Nice apa, their zombie dust is preferred. ale Ales have never been near my favorite types of beers, but Alpha King is definitely good. VERY hoppy, with a strong malt backbone, AK is best (at least for me) paired with food to "wash it down", as I dislike the extremely hoppy aftertaste. This is going against the grain of my Great Divide Titan IPA review, which was glowing, but I prefer the Titan due to it’s dryness. There’s a sweetness in the background of AK that I can’t get over. Still, Alpha King is outstanding, but I prefer other pale ales.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 14:50:41 | More by menkros

barczar

Kentucky

3.78/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy caramel copper color with a dense quarter inch tan head that quickly dissipates.

Aroma is heavily pine and citrus pith, with caramel malt sweetness and floral hop notes.

Bready, toasted malt forms the backbone of the beer, with underlying grapefruit pith and spruce flavors adding intrigue. Mint surfaces at the finish, with grassy and herbal tones. Bitterness is slightly dominant.

Body is moderate, with slightly high carbonation and a somewhat dry, crisp finish.

Overall, a fairly complex pale ale. Balanced to the extremes. But it's a little too bitter for my tastes. Just not my style.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2012 21:56:50 | More by barczar

cfrances33

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Not sure how I haven't reviewed this one yet, but here we go. Bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Pour: Deep , mostly clear amber orange with two fingers of bread colored head. Super sticky lacing, and head hang around for most of the glass.

Smell: Caramel malts hit first, followed by some breadyness. Very malt forward nose. Some pine and light citrus hangs around in the back, but not much.

Taste: Follows the nose with a heavy caramel, followed by a resinous bitterness. To be honest, the hop profile only lends bitterness rather than flavor. Caramel breadyness hangs around on the palate.

Mouthfeel: Kind of light, but the bitterness and heavy malt backbone make this beer feel bigger than it is. Normally, I would rate lower for this attribute in this style, but the heavy caramel in the taste make the heavier body of this beer a plus.

Overall: Good, but not great. It tickles my fancy every now and then, and I would definitely stress that I enjoy this beer. However, I view it more as an amber ale than a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 21:13:24 | More by cfrances33

KajII

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Shaker Glass]

The pour was a clear copper brown with an average (1-2 finger) beige fluffy head that had great retention and possessed really good sheets of streaky lacing.

The aroma was of a sweet biscuit malt, spruce and cascade hops and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of citrus (orange), caramel and a pronounced dark fruit (plum) presence.

The taste was lightly sweet and malty with a note of caramel and a strong fruity presence in the beginning, and then became somewhat hoppy with a nice creamy bitter citrus peel ending. The flavor lasted an average duration following the swallow with a wonderful sweet hoppiness left lying on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was a bit beyond light in body with a creamy dry texture and a medium carbonation.

Overall this was a very well balanced Pale Ale, with just the right amount of bitterness to go along with the mild fruity sweetness...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 14:18:50 | More by KajII

The_1084

4.33/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a deep copper, almost amber color. Had about a 1.5 finger head that had nice retention and left a good amount of lacing. Lots of activity visible in this beer.

S - Presents the aroma of citrus hops with hints of pineapple, grapefruit, and apple.

T - A strong taste of citrus fruits with grapefruit leading the way from start to finish.

M - A crisp beer with a clean finish and moderate carbonation; could easily drink several of these in one sitting.

O - One of the better pale ale's I have drank and would gladly drink more of these in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 23:17:37 | More by The_1084

C20Percent

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy copper brown with a big bubbly head of light tan foam on top. Some nice complexity in the color. Looks clean. Some decent bubble action in the body. Look closely, and like other FFF offerings, there are tiny pieces of sediment. Really nice looking beer, though, and very unique for a Pale Ale.

S: Almost like a totally toned down version of Zombie Dust. Yes, there is a much more subtle citrus smell here. Also some sweet malts and spice. But, mostly getting a floral lemon zest.

T: Mostly getting the sweet caramel malts and hops that end in a bitter finish. The spice is still present -- but not as citrusy as I remember. Probably should drink this a little fresher. But, this is just above average for me.

M: Smooth and creamy. Fantastic carbonation, which is par for all FFF brews. Medium body. Nice texture -- ends kind of buttery. Carbonation puts it over for me.

O: This bottle is probably pushing three months old -- so gotta keep that in mind in this review. I don't quite remember like this when I originally got the six pack. I remember it being more refreshing without as big of a malt characteristic. So, definitely pick up a six pack, but don't let it sit too long.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 00:19:21 | More by C20Percent

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We pour a rich dark copper brew. It boasts it a two and a half finger tall tan head of spidery bubbles and microbubbles, showing phenomenal retention. As it eventually goes it leaves impenetrable lacing around the glass. There is a thick haze to the beer, but no sediment is noted. Carbonation appears active. The nose is huge with citric hops of grapefruit. These hold a fruity tartness, and mix nicely with the pale malts, steely bite, and spicy phenols. There is a stickiness of sweet honey nectar, and a more soapy hop with warmth. Our first impression is that this is a great, nicely hopped beer. As we sip, pale muddy malts and mineral start up front. There is a biting bittering from the citrus which crashes in, only to be cut nicely by a sweeter honey flavoring. The middle peaks with sweet pear and lightly toasted pale malts. These mix with a sour wheatiness, and a grapefruit juice flavoring, separate from the hops, which adds bitterness and sugars. We finish with notes of chalky malts, light booze, black pepper, and a continuation of those citric hops and bitter lemon rind. The aftertaste breathes of bittering grassy hops, spicy booze, sour wheat, and wet pale malts. The body is medium to full, and the carbonation is medium. The mouth is left icy cool, with an astringent chalkiness. There is creamy slurp, froth, and glug to each sip. The abv is appropriate, and the beer is very easy drinking, but you find yourself drinking slowly so as to make it last.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the dark and beautiful coloring, and the freshness throughout. The hop presence is phenomenal, and again, so fresh and gritty. The malts become a bit muddy in the nose, and almost overpowering with warmth from those great hops right at the start. Throughout the taste, however, the blend of the malts and the hops is supreme, and this is one of the best in the style for sure. Drink on the colder side, as excess warmth throws the balance to the more sour grain side of things.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 16:59:01 | More by TheBrewo

TheChief24

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The pour is excellent with a nice, think head (be sure to pour carefully and leave sediment in the bottle).

Aroma is fantastic with heavy citrus and flowery notes.

Taste is bold, again with several citrus tones, but not overpowering. Hops are present but not overly biting at the finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 04:27:42 | More by TheChief24

rlee1390

Indiana

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Translucent deep orange, some carbonation, two finger head with some lacing.

S-Hop joyness, Earthy, pine along with citrus. Balanced out with nice caramel malt.

T-Nice caramel and waves of dirt/pine along with citrus hops. Mild bitterness but nice for an APA.

M-Medium bodied, some carbonation, very smooth.

O-A nice top level APA. Well rounded and balanced, wish I knew when this was bottled though.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 22:01:17 | More by rlee1390

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is quite the hoppy pale ale. Alpha King is a pretty appropriate name, as it has the properties to be the top APA out there. There is enough malt to balance the beer out, and a touch of citrus, but it's clearly all about the hops which absolutely dominate the palate. So, it can be a little pungent and I recall not wanting to take big sips, but at the same time I could easily have a couple of these in a sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2012 23:59:06 | More by TheRealBigC

joefuzz

New York

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer pours cloudy amber with a decent sized head...great lacing.

Smell is a hop bomb for a APA, awesome sense of grapefruit, pineapple and fresh apples

Taste is great piney hops upfront that mellows out as you sip leads into a very bready malt profile

Mouthfeel and carbonation are session beer all the way, light and easy drinking with a lower than normal carbonation

Overall this beer is amazing....a hop heads session beer. I really wish I could get this regularly

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 01:29:47 | More by joefuzz

socon67

New York

4.55/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

First Three Floyds, on tap at the Map Room in Chicago.

A - Amber pour. Decent foam retention and lacing is impressive as it webs the glass.

S - Scents of fresh tropical fruit and oily hops. For an APA the scent of fresh hops is more typical of a DIPA.

T - Crisp flavor that brings out more of the sweet fruit flavor than the bitterness of the hoppy bite. Makes this so well balanced that I felt this is what makes this a top shelf beer.

M - Easily sessionable, and with such a crisp feel and smooth balance, you would want to drink plenty of these. Can't imagine better.

O - Easily the best american pale I've had. Three Floyds gets plenty of hype but a beer like this makes the attention justified. Loved this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2012 16:22:47 | More by socon67

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

355ml bottle poured into a 16oz tulip. This will be my first review for a brew I received via trade. Huge thanks to Matt!

A - Pours a deep, cloudy reddish-amber, with a foamy, off-white head that retains as a thin, soapy film and leaves generous curtains of lacing and suds down the glass. Much darker than expected, but also a really nice looking brew.

S - Big hop aroma. Citrusy, fruity, floral and piney. Mango, pineapple, and grapefruit upfront with some floral spice and pine resin. Pronounced caramel malt presence, which I didn't really expect. Pretty much ideal for the style, even poking it's head into IPA-territory though. Orange marmalade, citric rind, and toasty toffee notes as well.

T - Big, piney and citrusy hops, with a big malty backbone. Bright notes of tropical fruit, grapefruit, mango and pineapple, with a resinous and earthy pine character as well. A touch of onion spice, and some subtle floral notes round out the hop profile. On the maltier side of things, this brew offers up a lot, providing a big earthy caramel malt balance, with sweet toffee and mild spiciness. Finish and aftertaste is an excellent balance of bitter and sweet between the bright hop flavors and rich malty backbone, making for a superb and drinkable profile all around.

M - Medium bodied, with some chew to it. Carbonation is pronounced but fine and unobtrusive. Floral spice and bitterness linger on the palate. Sticky for the style as well.

D - An all around fantastic pale ale from FFF. While the pungent and assertive hop profile pushes this brew towards IPA-territory, the big presence of sweet malty flavors gives it some real balance. Almost like an Imperial-APA. At only 6.00% ABV this brew packs some serious flavor, but remains balanced and most importantly, incredibly drinkable. A truly world-class beer from FFF.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 18:26:40 | More by Converge

spark3148857

New York

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Three Floyds:

AP: Amber with mahogany tones, creamy off white head.

AR: Pungent hops, some citrus with a heavy dose of earthy and piney aromas.

TS: Slight citrus hops but most bitterness comes from earthy and piney flavors, dry.

MF: Great smooth mouthfeel that coats the mouth.

OV: A well crafted APA verging on IPA that brings lots of great hop bitterness to the table.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 03:01:51 | More by spark3148857

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Three Floyds branded imperial pint glass

Pours a jewel-like amber with a two and a half finger pillowy off-white head with great retention. Significant lacing as the head recedes. An inviting blast of grapefruit rind and pine greet the nose. Opens with bitter grapefruit and understated floral notes sweet malt joins in fairly early and adds balance, finishes with a bit of bite and citrus. Incredible mouthfeel, medium bodied, but silky smooth with just the right amount of creaminess. A standard-setter for APA's. You'll be hard pressed to find one that is better.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 04:22:27 | More by chanokokoro

tdm168

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Dunn for bringing this one back from his travels.

A - pours copper with a soft, thin layer of pure white head that has decent retention

S - big bready malt, citrusy hop aromas

T - bready, citrusy, birthday cake-like sweetness

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is an awesome pale ale. It's big and malty with a nice, citrusy hop character that leads to superb balance. This is easy to drink and very enjoyable. I'm glad I have a few more of these to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 22:34:21 | More by tdm168

gustogasmic

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just wow. Poured into a 12 oz tulip, forms a luscious pillowy off-white head. The beer is a translucent amber with very active carbonation. Great pillowy lacing.

The smell is of ruby red grapefruit, bitter orange rind, and pine needles... A really potent and exciting bouquet.

Very orangey and bitter hop, hoppy as hell, and incredibly balanced. The body is there, but at the perfect level- not too big, not too sweet, but with no breaks on flavor. nice dry sticky leave that makes you smack your tongue and appreciate the flavor as it rolls out for minutes after a sip.

The mouthfeel is a bit thick for my liking but really works well with the beer. I can't knock it.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 22:01:45 | More by gustogasmic

JCaweinstein

Ohio

4.48/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark amber colored with a one finger off white head. Head does not stay long but it had a pleasant creamy character to it. Clear and with a sufficient amount of carbonation.
There is a very strong citrus aroma like grapefruit, I also detect pineapple. The aroma is very strong which is something I greatly appreciate.
This tastes so good, grapefruit, toasted bread, and some honey sweetness that is ever so lite and hardly noticeable but rounds of the sip nicely.
It's crisp and silky smooth up front before the resinous and sticky hops make my lips pucker up.
Everything about this beer is bold, aromas, taste, feel, even the label art. It's a fantastic beer that I seek out every time I'm in the great state of IN, though it's not always easy to find.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 23:46:40 | More by JCaweinstein

tyleeis

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bottle into a beer glass...

Great light brown/ dark golden color, decent 2 finger head....a perfect looking summer ale.

Big nose of hops!!! Slightly piney with caramel notes.

Taste is amazing!!!! Hoppy, sweet and a little bitterness, tastes like the smell with a nice caramel aftertaste.

Light carbination but relatively smooth, an easy drinker.

Overall this pale ale is King and is what got me into trying the more complex IIPA's....another great from 3F's! Try this beer!

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 01:44:37 | More by tyleeis

KingRascal

5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Look: Translucent gold/amber with a thick off-white head

Aroma: Floral, hoppy aroma with a pleasant hint of barley

Taste: Pleasant hop taste with a smooth finish and pleasant aftertaste. Bordering the flavor of an IPA

Feel: Refreshing, well rounded, frothy, smooth on the palate and crisp

Overall: Perhaps my favorite beer. An extraordinary bold flavor with a crisp and refreshing finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 05:58:14 | More by KingRascal